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Re: Seeking Smoother Braille Book Reading Experience

Victor
 

Yeah, I’m leaning toward getting the mantis. It seems like it would be the quietest and most versatile display available now. I am interested in the latest generation of the focus display because it’s made of aluminum and steel. However, the Mantis seems more versatile.

Thanks for the info,

Victor


On Dec 5, 2021, at 4:34 AM, Josh Kennedy <joshknnd1982@...> wrote:

the orbit reader is about as loud as somebody typing on a laptop keyboard. It is definitely quieter than a typewriter, but it is a little louder than something like a chameleon20 or mantis40 display. I use it to read in church with the display one to two feet from the microphone and it doesn't bother anybody. But that is in an open space. If you need something as quiet as possible maybe you want to go for the chameleon20 or mantis40 or a humanware display since the older piezoelectric cells an advantage to those is they are as quiet as you can get. I got the orbit display because at the time it was in my budget. But with this covid virus stuff, the price of the orbit displays went up to $650 now for their basic display. 

Re: FitBit or other

chris judge
 

Hi Nancy:
Regardless of what you choose you will have to sync it with a smart phone as there isn't a fitbit device that is accessible. Probably your best bet is an apple watch.

Chris Judge

-----Original Message-----
From: main@TechTalk.groups.io <main@TechTalk.groups.io> On Behalf Of Nancy Hill
Sent: December 4, 2021 5:28 PM
To: TechTalk <main@TechTalk.groups.io>
Subject: [TechTalk] FitBit or other

Well, I confess, I need to get movin'!


Is there any FitBit or other brand watch that is accessible for a totally blind person?


Please share your knowledge with me. Also, if there is a more
appropriate group to handle this line of questions, please infor me.


Many thanks in advance for your support.


nancy
Re: Seeking Smoother Braille Book Reading Experience

Josh Kennedy
 

the orbit reader is about as loud as somebody typing on a laptop keyboard. It is definitely quieter than a typewriter, but it is a little louder than something like a chameleon20 or mantis40 display. I use it to read in church with the display one to two feet from the microphone and it doesn't bother anybody. But that is in an open space. If you need something as quiet as possible maybe you want to go for the chameleon20 or mantis40 or a humanware display since the older piezoelectric cells an advantage to those is they are as quiet as you can get. I got the orbit display because at the time it was in my budget. But with this covid virus stuff, the price of the orbit displays went up to $650 now for their basic display. 
Re: adding a second address to my amazon account

Thomas N. Chan
 

From what I understand, you just need to add the new address.
You can put the person's name on it.

I did it on my amazon account with a few recipients .


go to

On Sun, 5 Dec 2021 at 07:16, Holly <feyk7@...> wrote:
Troy:

Try calling Amazon accessibility.  They are very helpful and can probably
help you.  at 888-283-1678






Re: Seeking Smoother Braille Book Reading Experience

Victor
 

I didn’t think it was quiet. I had read somewhere that it made a lot of noise. I work in radio broadcasting and audio production. That would not be a good display for my particular line of work. I’ve read somewhere that the mantis is very quiet. It’s too bad that the orbit is so noisy. When you are around other people, you don’t necessarily want a display that’s going to be a distraction to them. Why draw attention to yourself if you don’t need to do so?

Thanks for the info,

Victor


On Dec 4, 2021, at 8:48 PM, heather albright <kd5cbl@...> wrote:



No it is not. It makes a telegraph sound or like a type writer sound. If you want quiet,  brailliant or focuss display. I do not think the hense displays make any noise either. Heather

 

Sent from Mail for Windows

 

From: Victor
Sent: Saturday, December 4, 2021 2:04 PM
To: main@techtalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] Seeking Smoother Braille Book Reading Experience

 

Is the Orbit a quiet display?

 

Victor



On Dec 4, 2021, at 5:48 AM, Josh Kennedy <joshknnd1982@...> wrote:

I use an orbit reader20 and love it. The book reading experience is very smooth after I turn filter dot7, on, wrapping, on, split words, off, set auto-scroll, 2 or 3 seconds. hit space to start or stop auto-scrolling. 

 
Re: Seeking Smoother Braille Book Reading Experience

heather albright
 

No it is not. It makes a telegraph sound or like a type writer sound. If you want quiet,  brailliant or focuss display. I do not think the hense displays make any noise either. Heather

 

Sent from Mail for Windows

 

From: Victor
Sent: Saturday, December 4, 2021 2:04 PM
To: main@techtalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] Seeking Smoother Braille Book Reading Experience

 

Is the Orbit a quiet display?

 

Victor



On Dec 4, 2021, at 5:48 AM, Josh Kennedy <joshknnd1982@...> wrote:

I use an orbit reader20 and love it. The book reading experience is very smooth after I turn filter dot7, on, wrapping, on, split words, off, set auto-scroll, 2 or 3 seconds. hit space to start or stop auto-scrolling. 

 
Re: FitBit or other

Victor
 

Hello:

I own an Apple Watch and it is very accessible. I like it a lot.

Blessings,

Victor

On Dec 4, 2021, at 4:18 PM, Ashley Breger via groups.io <ashbreger@...> wrote:

Hello,
I used to own a Fitbit and I couldn’t read it other than sinking with my phone. Also I could not utilize any of the music and/or other features that it had on it. I would recommend an Apple Watch as I’ve heard that those are accessible.
Hope this helps,

Ashley Breger

On Dec 4, 2021, at 3:27 PM, Nancy Hill <girlyscream@...> wrote:

Well, I confess, I need to get movin'!


Is there any FitBit or other brand watch that is accessible for a totally blind person?


Please share your knowledge with me. Also, if there is a more appropriate group to handle this line of questions, please infor me.


Many thanks in advance for your support.


nancy
Re: kitty wireless.

enes sarıbaş
 

Hi,

Keep in mind with MVNOs there are downsides you should know.  They piggyback off main carrier networks, E.G. TMobile, Verizon, however you will be deprioritized over users of the main carriers, and there is no limit to how much you can be deprioritized. This may or may not matter, depending on where you live.   Second, there are some perks that postpaid plans have. For example, TMobile's Magenta and higher plans offer free 128k speed data abroad, and free texting.  I was using the TMobile prepaid 2.5 gb plan, which is $15, but switched  because I travel abroad, and a plan that doesn't work abroad is completely useless to me.  Third, postpaid plans have security features that prepaid plans don't have. For example, simswap and port protection. Tmobile will allow you to add port protection to your account, but doesn't for prepaid. This might be  really important, as if someone ports your prepaid line to another carrier, they can receive 2FA codes to their phone and gain access to your bank and other accounts.

On 12/1/2021 5:24 PM, Marda wrote:

I am on consumer cellular.  They have good service and I like that their customer service is all US based.  They did away with my old ten dollar a month plan without telling me in advance which made me mad and I think there are a few cheaper companies but I stick with them because their prices and customer service are still good and when I went to their counter at a target store they turned on voiceover for me with my SE 2020 and were very nice so I appreciated that.

Marda

On 12/1/2021 5:04 PM, Holly wrote:
Jim:
 
Are you in the U.S.?  I just signed up with Consumer Cellular.  I was with Verizon before and my bill was $54 for one phone with 3 gb of data.  Now, with my new service, I am paying $20 a month for the same plan.  They are having a promotion now, so get $5 off every month for the next 20 months, then the price will go to $25 a month.
 
If you DeLong to AARP or are a member of USAA, you also get a discount.
Re: FitBit or other

Ashley Breger
 

Hello,
I used to own a Fitbit and I couldn’t read it other than sinking with my phone. Also I could not utilize any of the music and/or other features that it had on it. I would recommend an Apple Watch as I’ve heard that those are accessible.
Hope this helps,

Ashley Breger

On Dec 4, 2021, at 3:27 PM, Nancy Hill <girlyscream@...> wrote:

Well, I confess, I need to get movin'!


Is there any FitBit or other brand watch that is accessible for a totally blind person?


Please share your knowledge with me. Also, if there is a more appropriate group to handle this line of questions, please infor me.


Many thanks in advance for your support.


nancy
Re: adding a second address to my amazon account

Holly
 

Troy:

Try calling Amazon accessibility. They are very helpful and can probably help you. at 888-283-1678
Re: adding a second address to my amazon account

Carolyn Arnold
 

Troy, my sighted sister couldn't even get that to work, when she was here last month.

-----Original Message-----
From: main@TechTalk.groups.io [mailto:main@TechTalk.groups.io] On Behalf Of Troy Burnham
Sent: Saturday, December 4, 2021 4:21 PM
To: main@TechTalk.groups.io
Subject: [TechTalk] adding a second address to my amazon account

Hi all,


I just added a second credit card to my amazon account for my mom to use when she makes purchases, but now I called amazon to find out if when my mom puts a purchase on her card if the package can be sent in her name and I was told that to have that happen we'd have to add an address and associate it with her credit card even if the address is the same as mine. Can anyone tell me exactly where to go to do this? The representative sent me an e-mail with a link into my account and told me to go into addresses at the top of the page but I've been going in circles for the past few minutes and can't figure it out.


I called the main amazon number when I contacted them and the lady said she couldn't help me, is the disability line anymore helpful in cases like this?


Thanks.


Troy
FitBit or other

Nancy Hill
 

Well, I confess, I need to get movin'!


Is there any FitBit or other brand watch  that is accessible for a totally blind person?


Please  share your knowledge with me.  Also, if there is a more appropriate group to handle this line of questions, please  infor me.


Many thanks in advance for your support.


nancy
adding a second address to my amazon account

Troy Burnham
 

Hi all,


I just added a second credit card to my amazon account for my mom to use when she makes purchases, but now I called amazon to find out if when my mom puts a purchase on her card if the package can be sent in her name and I was told that to have that happen we'd have to add an address and associate it with her credit card even if the address is the same as mine. Can anyone tell me exactly where to go to do this? The representative sent me an e-mail with a link into my account and told me to go into addresses at the top of the page but I've been going in circles for the past few minutes and can't figure it out.


I called the main amazon number when I contacted them and the lady said she couldn't help me, is the disability line anymore helpful in cases like this?


Thanks.


Troy
Re: Seeking Smoother Braille Book Reading Experience

Victor
 

Is the Orbit a quiet display?

Victor


On Dec 4, 2021, at 5:48 AM, Josh Kennedy <joshknnd1982@...> wrote:

I use an orbit reader20 and love it. The book reading experience is very smooth after I turn filter dot7, on, wrapping, on, split words, off, set auto-scroll, 2 or 3 seconds. hit space to start or stop auto-scrolling. 

Re: Seeking Smoother Braille Book Reading Experience

Josh Kennedy
 

I use an orbit reader20 and love it. The book reading experience is very smooth after I turn filter dot7, on, wrapping, on, split words, off, set auto-scroll, 2 or 3 seconds. hit space to start or stop auto-scrolling. 
Re: Seeking Smoother Braille Book Reading Experience

chris judge
 

Hey Mich.

Do you prefer typing on a qwerty style keyboard or a Braille one? I ask because the mantis q40 has the qwerty style keyboard. I bought one back in March and love it.

Chris Judge

-----Original Message-----
From: main@TechTalk.groups.io <main@TechTalk.groups.io> On Behalf Of Mich Verrier
Sent: December 4, 2021 8:19 AM
To: main@TechTalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] Seeking Smoother Braille Book Reading Experience

Hi I just applied to the assistive devices program hear in Ontario Canada and one of the thing that my person who gave me the assessment said that I should get is a 40 braille display I think he recommended the focus 40 blue. I have not red anything on a braille display how ever it would be nice to know that the braille does refresh once you are dun reading. Making the display smooth how ever I don't know of any braille displays that would refresh fast enouth that it would not brake the reading expearince. All of the braille I ever did was on braille papor and so I don't know of any braille display that would refresh as fast. From Mich Verrier from New Liskeard Ontario Canada.

-----Original Message-----
From: main@TechTalk.groups.io <main@TechTalk.groups.io> On Behalf Of Victor
Sent: December 3, 2021 8:27 PM
To: main@techtalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] Seeking Smoother Braille Book Reading Experience

This is a good question! No matter what kind of material we are reading, I think all of us want a Braille reading experience that is the closest to reading from a sheet of braille paper. I work in radio broadcasting and I want a smooth braille reading experience as well. I am currently using the first generation of the Focus 40 braille display. I like it, but my braille reading experience is somewhat broken as well. I think there are some braille displays that scroll the braille automatically when you set the scrolling speed. I think that would be a nice feature to have. It might make the reading experience someone smoother.

I hope others will comment on this particular question.

Blessings,

Victor
On Dec 3, 2021, at 5:13 PM, Joe Orozco <jsoro824@...> wrote:

If you’re using a Braille display to read books from either Bookshare
or BARD, what kind of display are you using, and what kind of
formatting settings are you using? I’m trying to read an NLS book, Web
Braille, and the text is rather broken regardless of the reading view
I’ve set on the Braille Sense U2. I want to say it’s a HIMS product
issue, but I’m not sure my experience was much better on the Mantis.
By broken, I mean the text does not span the length of the 32-cell
display. Also, the translation leaves extraneous text visible, making
for a dysfunctional reading experience. Any ideas from my fellow
electronic Braille readers?

Joe


--
Joe Orozco: Your Message, My Mission
https://joeorozco.com/services/
Re: Seeking Smoother Braille Book Reading Experience

Mich Verrier
 

Hi I just applied to the assistive devices program hear in Ontario Canada and one of the thing that my person who gave me the assessment said that I should get is a 40 braille display I think he recommended the focus 40 blue. I have not red anything on a braille display how ever it would be nice to know that the braille does refresh once you are dun reading. Making the display smooth how ever I don't know of any braille displays that would refresh fast enouth that it would not brake the reading expearince. All of the braille I ever did was on braille papor and so I don't know of any braille display that would refresh as fast. From Mich Verrier from New Liskeard Ontario Canada.

-----Original Message-----
From: main@TechTalk.groups.io <main@TechTalk.groups.io> On Behalf Of Victor
Sent: December 3, 2021 8:27 PM
To: main@techtalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] Seeking Smoother Braille Book Reading Experience

This is a good question! No matter what kind of material we are reading, I think all of us want a Braille reading experience that is the closest to reading from a sheet of braille paper. I work in radio broadcasting and I want a smooth braille reading experience as well. I am currently using the first generation of the Focus 40 braille display. I like it, but my braille reading experience is somewhat broken as well. I think there are some braille displays that scroll the braille automatically when you set the scrolling speed. I think that would be a nice feature to have. It might make the reading experience someone smoother.

I hope others will comment on this particular question.

Blessings,

Victor
On Dec 3, 2021, at 5:13 PM, Joe Orozco <jsoro824@...> wrote:

If you’re using a Braille display to read books from either Bookshare
or BARD, what kind of display are you using, and what kind of
formatting settings are you using? I’m trying to read an NLS book, Web
Braille, and the text is rather broken regardless of the reading view
I’ve set on the Braille Sense U2. I want to say it’s a HIMS product
issue, but I’m not sure my experience was much better on the Mantis.
By broken, I mean the text does not span the length of the 32-cell
display. Also, the translation leaves extraneous text visible, making
for a dysfunctional reading experience. Any ideas from my fellow
electronic Braille readers?

Joe


--
Joe Orozco: Your Message, My Mission
https://joeorozco.com/services/
Re: [jfw-users] FW: Avoid Switching to Windows 11 As Long as Possible!!

Keith S
 


of course, there could also be the issue of when people upgraded from win 7  to win 8 or windows xp to windows ME.  Seems like there is always a  so called bad version between the so called good versions.  wonder what makes the programmers and department heads at MS decide, "okay, this sin't working, lets ditch it and start from scratch with a new version"?
 
Keith

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2021 6:03 PM
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] [jfw-users] FW: Avoid Switching to Windows 11 As Long as Possible!!

Well, problems are in all new operating systems. the accessibility issues are not excluded from this list.

 

However, regardless of the cons against the operating system. What are the pros?

This is my concern. Not the problems because eventually these problems are going to be fix. What are going to be the advantages that could convince users to install Windows 11?

This is like the last IO’s updates. No much new. The same thing just a few appearance changes on the surface.

 

 

 

 

 

From: main@TechTalk.groups.io <main@TechTalk.groups.io> On Behalf Of John Holcomb II
Sent: Friday, December 3, 2021 12:12 PM
To: main@TechTalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] [jfw-users] FW: Avoid Switching to Windows 11 As Long as Possible!!

 

And have they tried different configs from different computers?

I’d think by now the pitch forks would be out if there were really this many problems across the  board.

John

 

 

From: main@TechTalk.groups.io <main@TechTalk.groups.io> On Behalf Of Gene
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2021 11:01 AM
To: main@TechTalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] [jfw-users] FW: Avoid Switching to Windows 11 As Long as Possible!!

 

Advice from a user I believe is technically knowledgeable enough to say this on another list is to wait three months after a new full release of Windows such as Windows 11 comes out.  That’s to avoid bugs which haven’t been worked out yet and because there may be areas in which screen-readers don’t work as well for a time.  Of course, if people want to have the latest and are willing to put up with potential problems, that’s up to them but I think that is good advice, and I’ve seen similar advice over the years, for people who want to use Windows for getting things done reliably and dependablly and who want to upgrade but who aren’t particularly experimenters and who can wait to get the newest thing. 

 

Aside from that, I don’t know anything about the organization who wrote the message but they are generalizing in a manner which appears to be unjustified and makes me suspicious about their reliability.  I’m not saying these things don’t happen and they may happen enough to be a problem, but if they are happening, as the message strongly implies to everyone, then why have many people upgraded on lists like this and we haven’t heard much of anything about these problems?  and why didn;’t we hear anything during beta testing on this list? 

 

In short, I consider the message to be cautionary, you may have such problems but not as any sort of proof about how likely it is that you will. 

 

Gene

-----Original Message-----

From: Ron Canazzi

Sent: Friday, December 03, 2021 8:46 AM

Subject: Re: [TechTalk] [jfw-users] FW: Avoid Switching to Windows 11 As Long as Possible!!

 

Hi Group,

I am using NVDA 2021.2 and I don't experience most of these problems. I am using the latest version of Microsoft Word from the 365 package and I do notice some sluggishness, but not as is described in this message from the Jaws-Users list.

The only major difference is that on my system--which is an HP desktop, I must click on the show hidden items chevron button and then use left/right arrow keys to highlight individual items on the system tray. This feature has effectively broken the NVDA add-on for syst tray list. 

On 12/3/2021 7:51 AM, Gerald Levy via groups.io wrote:

 



-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:

[jfw-users] FW: Avoid Switching to Windows 11 As Long as Possible!!

Date:

Fri, 3 Dec 2021 07:39:10 -0500

From:

Jane Carona mailto:jane.e.carona@...

Reply-To:

jfw-users@groups.io

To:

jfw-users@groups.io

 

Hi everyone,

I hope it’s okay to forward the following message which I received regarding switching to Windows 11.  I know several of you have done so, but this message is so negative about Windows 11, I really want opinions as to whether it’s okay to upgrade or not.  Here’s the message I received:

 

The IT Department at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland distributed the following information:

I thought everyone should know about this.

 

We have been finding that there is a massive problem with accessibility in Windows 11. Anyone using a screen-reader in Word, for instance, will find that very often, the system is slowed so badly it is nearly crippled; this does not affect people without screen-readers, as far as we've been able to determine. There are also a great many things broken that have caused screen-reader accessibility to seriously decrease. At this stage, Microsoft are showing few or no signs that they intend to fix the situation. Some of you may be offered the chance to upgrade by your home computers, depending on how new they are (the system can't be run on an older one), and we very strongly suggest, at this point, that you refrain from trying it. In some instances, it can render the system nearly unusable. It has also been known to cause video drivers to stop working, which means that nothing will appear on the screen, and it can also cause screen-readers to refuse to start up if you are even one version out of date. We also know that the alt-tab keystroke has been broken, and we suspect that a lot of other problems have been incorporated into Windows 11 as well. Having experienced crashes and mishaps getting the system up and running ourselves, we are only just experimenting with it and do not believe we've found all the problems.

 

In the event that you would like to try an experiment at home, you absolutely must update your screen-reader fully before doing so. If you fail to do that, it probably won't load, leaving you without speech. Using Narrator to attempt to update any other screen-reader will be slow and might not work. The system has, overall, taken a rather nasty hit in the speed department that all of you, as screen-reader users, will notice in particular, and a lot of programs work erratically at best. Finally, if you do opt to try this update, we suggest that you do not try it on a computer you depend on for work or important personal tasks. Downgrading will be difficult or impossible. Again, those of you in Rehab may wish to let all your students know, and note that if you have a choice when buying a new computer, try not to purchase it with Windows 11.

 

 



-- 
Signature:
For a nation to admit it has done grevous wrongs and will strive to correct them for the betterment of all is no vice;
For a nation to claim it has always been great, needs no improvement  and to cling to its past achievements is no virtue!
Re: windows 7/often folder list looks blank till I maximize the folder's window

Gene
 

Yes, I meant alt space bar.
 
Gene

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2021 9:16 PM
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] windows 7/often folder list looks blank till I maximize the folder's window
 
Shouldn't that be, "alt spacebar"?
 
Rick
----- Original Message -----
From: Gene
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2021 11:22 AM
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] windows 7/often folder list looks blank till I maximize the folder's window
 
I don’t know what is causing the problem and I’m not sure you are really maximizing the window when you think you are.  When you use alt enter, then x to maximize a folder, close Windows Explorer, then open any folder again, and issue alt enter again, do you hear restore unavailabgle if you let all speech be spoken or do you just hear restore?  If you just hear restore, that means the folder is already maximized.  If I maximize a folder, close Windows Explorer, and open a folder, it is maximized. Maximizing one folder causes all folders to be displayed as maximized until I restore a folder. 
 
Your daughter’s statement makes sense regarding the behavior I’ve seen,  When trouble shooting in such a case, test by listening to full announcements when opening folders.  Don’t assume what is occurring.  That’s a good idea in any case where you are testing to see if a change is retained. 
 
Also, I don’t know if your e-mail program causes things to remain maximized or not after you maximize one instance of something.  But given what you are reporting, I suspect the problem is not whether the window is maximized and I suspect that turning off and on the virtual pc cursor is not necessary.  In all these cases, simply leaving the main window or the whole window and returning may be causing JAWS to read content.  Test this by trying the following:
When you open an e-mail, if nothing is read, press alt to go into the menu or ribbonss.  Press alt again to leave the menus or ribbon and return to the window where you were.  Can you read content then?  Do the same test after you open a folder.  If this allows you to hear content, you should be able to cause content to be read by opening something and pressing alt twice very quickly.  The procedure should be very fast. You should be able to press alt, then immediately after pressing it again.  
 
If that causes material to be read, then your choice is to do this annoying but quick and easy procedure repeatedly or to try to solve the problem.  I have no idea what the problem is.  You could uninstall and reinstall JAWS to see if that solves it.  If it doesn’t, you may have to reinstall Windows or do some sort of repair.  I don’t know enough about that subject to discuss those options further, but it is my understanding that a repair option is available that often is effective at correcting problems without the work and time of reinstalling Windows. 
 
Gene
-----Original Message-----
From: joanne
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2021 8:07 AM
Subject: [TechTalk] windows 7/often folder list looks blank till I maximize the folder's window
 
This even happens a lot in emails too, where opening an email shows blank. To bring the email's contents up I have to either maximize with alt space together and then the letter X; or I have to turn off and then on the Jaws virtual cursor.
 
So that's the email situation and it can be annoying. But it seems to be worse every day, this problem of going to a folder and then, upon opening, seeing nothing till I maximize. Lots of folders do this--the my computer folder, songs, etc. My daughter told me the other day that my screen looked big, which is hard to believe since when I open folders the contents must be too little to see. I don't know what is going on, but am very open to any thoughts. I'm sure the computer and Windows should probably be revamped somehow, and this just seems to be happening way too often.
 
Thanks.
 
Re: windows 7/often folder list looks blank till I maximize the folder's window

Richard Justice
 


Shouldn't that be, "alt spacebar"?
 
Rick

----- Original Message -----
From: Gene
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2021 11:22 AM
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] windows 7/often folder list looks blank till I maximize the folder's window

I don’t know what is causing the problem and I’m not sure you are really maximizing the window when you think you are.  When you use alt enter, then x to maximize a folder, close Windows Explorer, then open any folder again, and issue alt enter again, do you hear restore unavailabgle if you let all speech be spoken or do you just hear restore?  If you just hear restore, that means the folder is already maximized.  If I maximize a folder, close Windows Explorer, and open a folder, it is maximized. Maximizing one folder causes all folders to be displayed as maximized until I restore a folder. 
 
Your daughter’s statement makes sense regarding the behavior I’ve seen,  When trouble shooting in such a case, test by listening to full announcements when opening folders.  Don’t assume what is occurring.  That’s a good idea in any case where you are testing to see if a change is retained. 
 
Also, I don’t know if your e-mail program causes things to remain maximized or not after you maximize one instance of something.  But given what you are reporting, I suspect the problem is not whether the window is maximized and I suspect that turning off and on the virtual pc cursor is not necessary.  In all these cases, simply leaving the main window or the whole window and returning may be causing JAWS to read content.  Test this by trying the following:
When you open an e-mail, if nothing is read, press alt to go into the menu or ribbonss.  Press alt again to leave the menus or ribbon and return to the window where you were.  Can you read content then?  Do the same test after you open a folder.  If this allows you to hear content, you should be able to cause content to be read by opening something and pressing alt twice very quickly.  The procedure should be very fast. You should be able to press alt, then immediately after pressing it again.  
 
If that causes material to be read, then your choice is to do this annoying but quick and easy procedure repeatedly or to try to solve the problem.  I have no idea what the problem is.  You could uninstall and reinstall JAWS to see if that solves it.  If it doesn’t, you may have to reinstall Windows or do some sort of repair.  I don’t know enough about that subject to discuss those options further, but it is my understanding that a repair option is available that often is effective at correcting problems without the work and time of reinstalling Windows. 
 
Gene
-----Original Message-----
From: joanne
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2021 8:07 AM
Subject: [TechTalk] windows 7/often folder list looks blank till I maximize the folder's window
 
This even happens a lot in emails too, where opening an email shows blank. To bring the email's contents up I have to either maximize with alt space together and then the letter X; or I have to turn off and then on the Jaws virtual cursor.
 
So that's the email situation and it can be annoying. But it seems to be worse every day, this problem of going to a folder and then, upon opening, seeing nothing till I maximize. Lots of folders do this--the my computer folder, songs, etc. My daughter told me the other day that my screen looked big, which is hard to believe since when I open folders the contents must be too little to see. I don't know what is going on, but am very open to any thoughts. I'm sure the computer and Windows should probably be revamped somehow, and this just seems to be happening way too often.
 
Thanks.
 
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